Page 68 of Cursed Touch
“Are you sure you want me there?” Carter asked for the third time. He pointed toward the car with his thumb. “I can come back and pick you up or even stay in the car.”
Vanessa looked from the house to him and shook her head. “Please?” she whispered, and he hated the tremble he heard.
He pulled her against his chest and held her tight. “Okay, sweetheart.”
Carter did not want to meet her parents under these circumstances, not even a little bit. But there was no way he would leave her to do it alone if she wanted him there.
Pulling back, he cupped her face. “You can do this.” He lowered his mouth to hers and imagined his strength and pride seep into the kiss.
When their eyes met, he noted the fear in hers had lessened. “Here goes everything,” she told him and linked their fingers together. “They might not even be home.”
Her wobbly smile made him chuckle. “Liar,” he said
He squeezed her hand after knocking on the door. When she shifted from foot to foot at his side, he pressed his lips to her temple. “Breathe—”
Locks disengaged and the doorknob turned. “Vanessa?”
She was an older version of Vanessa but with shoulder-length hair. Her smile faltered, and her brows pinched as she studied Vanessa.
“Hi, Mom. Carter, I’d like you to meet my mom, Daphyne. Mom, Carter’s my—” Vanessa paused and worried her lip.
Carter released her hand and offered it. “Her boyfriend,” he said without skipping a beat.
Vanessa’s eyes softened as her mother’s hardened.
“Pleasure meeting you,” he said, infusing all the charm he could muster in the words.
“Boyfriend?”
“Yes.” Vanessa cocked her head. “Can we come in, or are you going to keep us outside?”
Her mother eyed him again before forcing a smile as she stepped aside. Vanessa released his hand and hugged her mother. The woman’s eyes, a mossy green, flashed at the contact, and an apologetic expression grazed her features before she regained her composure.
“I can make some tea, as it seems we have a lot to talk about,” Daphyne said, giving Carter a knowing look.
“Where’s Dad?” Vanessa asked ahead of them.
“He’s bowling, honey. His league is practicing for their next game.”
They moved down a hall, passed a formal living room and bedrooms off another hall, and stopped at a small dining room off the kitchen. The home was decorated in whites and beige colors. Various plants were the only thing to bring color and life to the rooms.
Taking Vanessa’s lead, he stood beside her as she leaned forward on the edge of a kitchen counter. He was tempted to run a hand over her back but did not want to upset her mother any more than she was.
Daphyne worked on the tea, keeping her hands busy as she updated Vanessa on her dad’s success at bowling. The small talk gave Carter time to observe her and the humble home she kept.
Everything was like the home and mother Vanessa had described to him on the way over—if he did not count the huge secret lying between them. Carter attempted to push out his magic, curious to see if he noticed anything.
Before he could reach Daphyne, he was slammed against a wall with vines wrapped around each wrist and ankle. The force of his back hitting the wall pushed air from his lungs, and he knew his eyes gave away his surprise.
Vanessa screamed as she rushed to his side.
“Get away from him, Vanessa,” Daphyne demanded.
Vanessa pushed to her feet and slammed her hands on her hips. “No. If you’re doing this, stop it right now!”
“He’s dangerous,” she countered, her eyes flashing green.
Vanessa caressed his face. “Well, that answers our question.”
